Qualcomm wants to convert your PC from x86 to Arm with its killer new 12-core chip

pcgamer.com:

The whole Arm-versus-x86 thing just got a lot more interesting. Qualcomm has announced its much anticipated new Snapdragon X Elite SoC. Designed specifically for laptop PCs, it's the first significant output of Qualcomm's Apple-influenced Nuvia subsidiary, debuts a brand new CPU core architecture known as Oryon and comes with performance claims that are fairly eye popping.

In fact, it's so fast by Qualcomm claims (via Anandtech), it begs the question of whether this, finally, is the chip that truly kickstarts the PC's transition from x86 CPUs to Arm chips. The comparison with Apple's M1 and M2 series chips is interesting, too. Then there's whole thing with Nvidia and AMD tooling up to release Arm chips. Hold those thoughts, we'll come back to them.

Qualcomm reckons the new Snapdragon X Elite's 12-core CPU is slightly faster overall in Geekbench 6 multithreading than an Intel Core i7 13800H, a 14-core chip. Alternatively, Qualcomm says the X Elite can match the 13800H's performance at a massive 65% power reduction.

Over on the GPU side of things, Qualcomm is claiming the chip's new Adreno GPU offers 80% more performance in 3D Mark Wildlife than AMD's 780M GPU, the integrated graphics found in the Phoenix APU that powers the new generation of gaming handhelds, like the Asus ROG Ally.

Again, Qualcomm alternatively claims that the Snapdragon X Elite SoC can match the AMD 780M GPU's performance at 80% less power consumption. Truly spectacular stuff, if true.

Qualcomm hasn't released a huge amount of information when it comes to the design and architecture of the new chip. But there are a few interesting details that both add to the picture and create questions of their own.

The new chip has 12 of the mysterious Oryon cores.